Moline Committee-of-the-Whole and City Council Meeting - June 18, 2024
Moline Committee-of-the-Whole and City Council Meeting - June 18, 2024
On June 18, 2024, the Moline City Council convened as a Committee-of-the-Whole at 6:00 PM in Council Chambers, followed by the regular City Council meeting. The meeting included board appointments, a Juneteenth proclamation, several resolutions on park renaming, personnel, historic preservation, police agreements, capital improvements, and a licensing agreement. The council also received an informational presentation on a proposed volunteer-based sidewalk snow removal pilot program. All votes during the evening were unanimous (7-0, with one alderperson absent).
Consent Calendar
- Board Appointments: Approved Mayor's reappointments of John Knaack and Bill Abel to the Moline Park and Recreation Board (5-year terms expiring May 31, 2029), and appointment of Rochelle Carlin-Krueger to the MetroLINK Board of Trustees (unexpired term ending November 30, 2027).
- Proclamation: Declared June 19, 2024 as "Juneteenth National Freedom Day" in Moline.
- Second Reading Ordinances (15.1-15.6): Approved amendments to parking prohibitions (Ninth Street and Thirteenth Street), all-way stop intersection (Eighth Avenue and Thirty-sixth Street), comprehensive plan amendment (Avenue of the Cities Corridor Plan), zoning map amendment (2307 44th Street), and a new option for packaged alcohol sales for off-premises consumption (Option 5 for Class A licensees). These items were erroneously listed as first readings on the prior agenda but were correctly approved as second readings.
- Consent Resolutions (16.1-16.5): Approved a $2,000 grant to Renew Moline for "Chillin’ in the Courtyard" events; special event permits for Tudi’s Tribe Gabe’s Gift Memorial 5K (Sept. 7), Butterworth Center Porch Party (Sept. 15), and Quad Cities Running Club/TBK Marathon (Sept. 20-21); and a School Police Liaison Officers Agreement with Moline-Coal Valley School District No. 40 for four officers during the 2024-2025 school year.
Discussion Items
- 8.1 – Renaming East End Park to O’Brien Park: A resolution approving the renaming in memory of Pat and Cecilia O’Brien, both longtime public servants. City Administrator Mr. Vitas noted the sign would be completed by end of August, with an unveiling in September. Approved unanimously.
- 8.2 – Creation of Facilities Manager Position: A resolution authorizing the creation of a Facilities Manager position, splitting the former fleet and facilities manager role based on a recommendation from a Strategic Government Resources evaluation. Approved unanimously.
- 8.3 – Endorsement of Skelly Service Station for National Register of Historic Places: A resolution endorsing the nomination of the Skelly Service Station at 820 5th Avenue, restored by lifetime Moline resident Felix Bajale. The station already has local historic recognition; this step seeks state/federal listing. Council members encouraged visiting the restored station. Approved unanimously.
- 8.4 – Intergovernmental Agreement with Quad City Metropolitan Enforcement Group (MEG): Chief of Police presented an annual renewal of the agreement for multi-jurisdictional investigations into drug, gun, human trafficking, and violent crimes. The city has participated since 1973; staffing shortages prevented recent participation, but the chief hopes to resume. Approved unanimously.
- 8.5 – Memorandum of Understanding with Rock Island County Drug Court: Chief explained the MOU allows a Moline staff member to sit on the drug court board, which assists candidates through an 18-month program including five phases and one year of continuous sobriety. The drug court has screened nearly 3,000 candidates since 2017. Council members praised the rehabilitative approach. Approved unanimously.
- 8.6 – Amended 2024 Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) and 2025-2027 CIP: Approved the amended CIP as presented at the June 11 roundtable. Alderperson Messias commented on the recurring fence replacement at Wildwood area, urging a more durable solution. City Administrator noted staff is seeking permanent solutions. Approved unanimously.
- 8.7 – Traffic Signal Easement for John Deere Pedestrian Crossing: A resolution accepting a traffic signal easement from John Deere for two pedestrian crossing signals on River Drive (416 and 501), funded entirely by John Deere to provide safe crossing for employees on the 66-foot-wide road. Approved unanimously.
- **8.8 – Licensing Agreement with River House Bar & Grill for “Chillin’ in the Courtyard”: Authorized use of the Historic Block Courtyard for outdoor alcohol and food service on August 10 and September 14, 2024. City staff noted the space has been underused and they aim to reactivate it. Approved unanimously.
Informational Presentation: Sidewalk Snow Removal Program
Denver Schmitt, Director of Public Works, presented a proposed pilot program for a volunteer-based sidewalk snow removal initiative. The program would target residents aged 62+, those with medical conditions, and low-income households. Volunteers would be recruited from community organizations, high school students, and neighborhood groups. Key features: no guarantee of assistance, activation for snow events of 2 inches or more, 24-48 hour completion window, liability waivers, and a reward system for volunteers. Council discussion focused on: excluding rental properties and HOAs; prioritizing routes near schools; enforcement against able-bodied non-compliant property owners; and ensuring sidewalks cleared by city plows are not blocked. Several alderpersons suggested incentives (e.g., branded hats) and partnerships with school sports teams, Boy Scouts, and service clubs. The program is intended to complement future nuisance abatement efforts.
Key Outcomes
- All agenda items approved unanimously (7-0): Board appointments, Juneteenth proclamation, park renaming, facilities manager creation, Skelly Station historic nomination, MEG IGA, Drug Court MOU, CIP amendment, traffic signal easement, and licensing agreement.
- Consent Agenda: Approved by omnibus vote (7-0).
- Non-Consent Resolutions:
- 18.1: Skelly Station historic nomination – approved (7-0).
- 18.2: Quad City MEG intergovernmental agreement – approved (7-0).
- 18.3: Contract with General Constructors, Inc. for $441,630.75 for 70th Street and John Deere Parkway retaining wall – approved (7-0).
- Executive Session: Motion to convene closed session for personnel, negotiations, property, and litigation matters – approved (7-0).
- Upcoming: Mayor to attend 92nd U.S. Conference of Mayors in Kansas City (June 19); staff noted the Illinois Municipal League Conference in Chicago (Sept. 19-21) and ongoing rental housing registration enforcement with 1,443 final notices mailed.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening, everyone. I'll call this committee of or this meeting to order here in Council Chambers at 6 p.m. We do not have remote electronic attendance today, so we'll start with a roll call, please. Alder Person Murphy present. Messias? Present. Razak. Present. Timion? Present. Finch. Present. McNeil. Present. Castro. Schmidt. Present. All right. Thank you very much. Um next item of business is our board appointments. Mayor's reappointment of John Knock to the Moleine Park and Recreation Board for a full five-year term to expire May 31st, 2029. Mayor's reappointment of Bill Abel to the Moline Park and Recreation Board for a full five-year term to expire May 31, 2029. The mayor's appointment of Rochelle Carl and Kruger to the Rugg Island County Metropolitan Mass Transit District, Metrolink Board of Trustees to fill the unexpired term of Sam McCullum to expire November 30th, 2027. And she's right back there. You've probably met before ahead of MCDC. So any questions on those appointments? Okay, hearing none, we'll go to our proclamation to declare June 19, 2024 is Juneteenth National Freedom Day. The proclamation reads, there is no one here. Just give this correct yeah. Um proclamation reads um, whereas approximately 11 and one half million African Americans survived the voyage to the new world and were forced to submit to slavery for more than 240 years after arrival in the United States, and whereas Juneteenth commemorates the day freedom was proclaimed to all enslaved people in Texas by Union Major General Gordon Granger on June 19th, 1865 in Galveston, Texas, more than two and a half years after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation by President Abraham Lincoln. And whereas today, Juneteenth, celebrates African American freedom and achievement while encouraging continuous self-development and respect for all cultures, and is a recognition of the many contributions that African Americans have made throughout America's history and presently, both while enslaved and liberated. And whereas Americans of all colors, creeds, cultures, genders, religions, orientations, abilities, and countries of origin share in common love of and respect for freedom, as well as a determination to protect their right to freedom. Now, therefore, I, Sangeeta Rayapati, Mayor of Moline, do hereby proclaim this 19th day of June 2024 as Juneteenth National Freedom Day. So thank you for your time and attention to that proclamation. That is tomorrow. And uh, while it's not a holiday here at the city, we hope you're able to um commemorate the day in some meaningful way. Thank you. Is there public comment this evening, Chief? Anyone in the audience? Okay, hearing none. Um questions on the agenda. I had given you a heads up last week about this scrivener error, uh, but I'll remind you that items 15.1 through 15.5 appeared on the June 11 agenda as I think you meant June 4th, yes. June 4th agenda as consent agenda, second reading ordinances. There was a scrivener's error, and this should have been consent agenda first reading ordinances. These will be approved tonight as the second reading. Okay. Any other questions? Hearing none, we move to our committee of the whole agenda items. 8.1, a resolution approving the renaming of East End Park to O'Brien Park in memory of Pat and Cecilia O'Brien. Mr.
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